Sophomore guard Jayden Hackett will participate in the 2026 NJCAA Men’s basketball All-Star Game, held next month in Las Vegas, Nevada. MATC Athletics made the announcement on April 16.
Third Player to Earn All-Star Selection
After earning the NJCAA Division II first team All-Honors and being named the 2026 Region 4 Midwest District A player of the Year, Hackett will be heading to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the All-Star game on May 8-9. He becomes the third player in MATC History to earn an All-Star Selection, joining Mason Johnson (2023) and Shelton Williams-Dryden (2024).
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Randy Casey praised Hackett’s dedication. “Jayden has an Amazon work ethic, and it continues to show with honors like this,” he said. “From the moment he stepped on campus, and even before that, he showed how much he loves the games and how dedicated he is to it,” Casey added. He is proud of everything Hackett has accomplished and excited about what the future holds.
A Promise to His Mom
When Hackett was named a First Team-All-American, he reflected on his journey that brought him here. In a previous student feature, Hackett shared that he lost his mother at the age of 15 and spoke to us about how she always believed in him. For Hackett, this honor is more than just an award, but proof that his past doesn’t define him.
Hackett explained how much the All-Star selection means to him. “The part that feels closest to being fulfilled is just putting myself in a position where I’m living out what I promised to her, playing at a high level, being recognized and making something out of the opportunity I was given from God,” he said. “But what still drives me everyday is knowing that the job isn’t finished. The promise wasn’t just about knowing that the job isn’t finished,” Hackett added.
He continues to say that the promise was not just about being selected in the All-Star Game but becoming the best version of himself and making sure everything he does represents his mother. As Hackett prepares for the game, he sees his moment as another step honoring that promise. “I want that moment when I step onto the court to say that I earned everything,” he said. “Going from overlooked to this stage just shows what trusting in God, the work, and staying consistent can do,” he added.
“When I step on that floor in Las Vegas, I want people to see someone who grew through everything, stayed true to himself and turned doubt into fuel.” On Friday May 8, at the NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame Banquet, Hackett will be honored along with other 2026 inductees. On Saturday May 9, he will play in the All-Star game at the Cox Pavilion; tipoff is 4:30 p.m.
